On the Stump in 2008

It really is remarkable. It must have been like this several times throughout history. I would suspect the election of JFK was something like this: a nation embroiled in "what ifs." Of course, I was in 4th grade so I didn't really care much about it...remember, this was even before the Beatles came to America, and I think 1964 was the point at which I started noticing things outside of my immediate surroundings and what we had for dinner. Sputnik was a big deal, I remember, but only because the adults all talked about it like Russia was going to wipe us off the face of the map because they had put a satellite into space orbit. Neli Armstrong walking on the moon was historic as was the first space shuttle launch, the first and all subsequent shuttle disasters (fortunately, I missed out on being the first teacher in space) and, of course, 9/11. But this is somehow different. I feel really positive that this year's presidential election will signal a new era in how people perceive Americans as well as how we will begin to perceive ourselves. As an example, we were involved in a political discussion today with a total stranger (except for the fact that he had prepared our subs for lunch).
Out of the blue, Carol asked this guy, working alone at a regionally-franchised sub shop, if he had health insurance. He was a bit stunned but admitted that he did not.
"Don't you wish you did?" sparked the political discussion about what was right for him as a citizen.
"I work full time for minimum wage," was his take on his life. "I cannot afford health insurance even if it were offered to me." We continued to discuss the idea of at least having a choice, and his response, repeated several times, was "I choose to work here, knowing that health care is not available."
About this time, the delivery driver came back, and the four of us debated the likelihood of them getting any kind of health insurance, and the picture was bleak. Both of them had voted in our recent primary though neither offered an account of his choice. Whether or not they had ever considered it a "right" to have health care never really seemed to come up. I almost felt guilty having a plan that costs so little and provides so much...to a retired person. Knowing that most people have nothing of the sort is a bit sad. Knowing so many more people have NONE is a good reason to vote this time around. Our friend fixing subs used the word "socialist," and I almost spit out my drink. I had not heard that word since tie-dyed shirts and fatigue jackets were all the rage. OF COURSE it's socialist...in the sense that we all share: bad for the "haves" but good for the erstwhile "have nots."
Kant would be proud of us.
Oh yes, they were both MUCH younger than we...that says something, but I'm not sure what.